€8m fund to support energy-efficiency in education
The Flemish Energy Agency is to improve monitoring of energy use in schools, while universities and colleges can receive subsidies for energy-efficiency projects
Adjusting the boilers
The government currently spends about €700 million a year on energy for buildings, with old school buildings accounting for a substantial chunk of this budget. Education minister Hilde Crevits has now ordered the Vlaams Energiebedrijf (Flemish Energy Agency) to follow up schools’ energy consumption better and set up energy-saving projects with schools.
Small adjustments to things such as boilers can make a big difference, Crevits told public broadcaster VRT. This winter, experts will measure the energy use of a group of schools, adjust the boilers and measure again next year to monitor its effect. “We hope this will convince other schools to look at these small details,” she said.
The government is also launching a call to universities and colleges, which have until mid-November to submit proposals on working more energy-efficiently. These might concern roof and wall insulation or installing energy-efficient lighting.
The projects that would reduce the most CO2 emissions per invested euro will receive subsidies of up to half the cost price, with a maximum of €500,000 per project and €2 million per institution. The total €8 million funding comes from the Climate Fund, which is funded by the sale of emission licences to business.
